SPAIN has taken the unfortunate crown of the ‘sudden death’ capital of Europe, new research has revealed.
According to a report published by cardiologists in Lancet Regional Health, Spain was home to an average annual rise in sudden deaths of 3.3% between 2010 and 2020 – the largest growth across Europe.
Overall, nearly 2.6 million deaths were recorded across the continent during the ten years chosen for analysis, equating to an average increase of 2.9% per year.
The comprehensive study is based on mortality data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), covering 26 European countries and more than 53 million deaths.
“The novelty of our work lies in providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date overview of these trends across Europe,” said Marco Zuin, an Italian cardiologist and lead author of the study.
“This has allowed us to highlight important differences by sex and geographical region that had not been sufficiently recognised.”
For the purposes of research, a ‘sudden death’ is classified as any death occurring within one hour of the onset of symptoms, or the unexpected death of a person who appeared healthy and well within the previous 24 hours.
Most sudden deaths appear in men, but the number of women succumbing in similar circumstances is also on the rise.
“The increase in women may reflect several factors, including a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors, differences in symptoms that lead to delayed diagnosis, and disparities in access to timely care and resuscitation,” explained Zuin.
Around 80% of sudden deaths are caused by cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or brain haemorrhages.
Zuin says population ageing, plus a rise in obesity, diabetes and a poor diet, may help to explain the surge.
Stark inequalities in access to healthcare and improvements in death certification may also be contributing factors, which also help to explain large regional differences.
Spain recorded the highest increase at 3.3 per cent, but other countries including Austria and Belgium saw significant falls.
“In Spain’s case, it is likely due to a multifactorial interaction,” said Jimenez Jaimez.
“Spai has the highest life expectancy in Europe and the world, which implies a greater proportion in high-risk age groups.”
Sudden deaths are more common after middle age, when the risk of cardiovascular issues begins to rise.
From the age of 50, the risk may increase by up to 10% every year.
“Our results highlight that sudden death remains a major public health problem in Europe,” said Zuin.
“Addressing this challenge will require multidisciplinary strategies, better prevention, increased public awareness and stronger emergency response systems.”
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